Another St. Thomas Aquinas defensive end is headed to Columbus.
Four-star defensive end Wyatt Smith, the No. 11 edge rusher and No. 78 overall prospect in the 2027 class, committed to Ohio State on Sunday. The South Florida standout follows in the footsteps of former Raiders-turned-Buckeyes Joey and Nick Bosa.
BREAKING: Four-Star EDGE Wyatt Smith has Committed to Ohio State, he tells me for @Rivals
The 66 250 EDGE chose the Buckeyes over Indiana and Missouri
Talent is God-given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.https://t.co/VL1NkM0VnP pic.twitter.com/g0VEXhTQ41
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) May 17, 2026
Smith emerged as one of the nation’s top recruits after a breakout junior season in 2025, filling the stat sheet with 155 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, 33 quarterback hurries, 13 sacks, two pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles in 15 games. He earned MaxPreps All-American honors while leading St. Thomas Aquinas to a Class 5A state championship.
The Smith File
Class: 2027
Size: 6-6/245
Pos: DE
School: St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
Composite Rating: ★★★★
Composite Rank: #78 (#11 Edge)
Ohio State and defensive line coach Larry Johnson beat out Missouri, Notre Dame and Indiana for Smith’s commitment. That accomplishment becomes even more notable considering Smith’s father, Justin Smith, starred at Missouri from 1998 to 2000 before becoming a first-round pick in the 2001 NFL draft. He went on to earn two All-Pro selections and five Pro Bowl nods while recording 884 tackles and 87 sacks across a 14-year NFL career.
Wyatt Smith becomes Ohio State’s 12th commitment in the 2027 class, which is headlined by five-star defensive end DJ Jacobs and five-star wide receiver Jamier Brown. Brown told Eleven Warriors on May 10 that he has shut down his recruitment and intends to sign with the Buckeyes in December.
Smith and Jacobs are currently the Buckeyes’ only edge rusher commitments and two of five defensive pledges in the class, joining four-star safety Eli Johnson, four-star linebacker Quinton Cypher and three-star safety Angelo Smith, the younger brother of star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith.
Class of 2027 Commits
Pos
Name
Rating
Rank
Size
School
DE
#4 NATL | #1 DE
6-5 | 235
Blessed Trinity Catholic (Roswell, Georgia)
WR
#21 NATL | #4 WR
5-11 | 192
Wayne (Dayton, Ohio)
DE
#78 NATL | #11 DE
6-6 | 235
St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
OT
#81 NATL | #6 OT
6-5 | 265
Liberty Center (Liberty Center, Ohio)
S
#173 NATL | #13 S
6-3 | 200
Cibolo Steele (Cibolo, Texas)
LB
#218 NATL | #19 LB
6-2 | 220
Millbrook (Raleigh, North Carolina)
QB
#225 NATL | #18 QB
6-5 | 220
Huntington Beach (Huntington Beach, California)
OT
#313 NATL | #29 OT
6-5 | 285
Godwin (Richmond, Virginia)
OT
#317 NATL | #30 OT
6-6 | 280
Central Catholic (Pittsburgh, PA)
OT
#409 NATL | #21 IOL
6-4 | 290
Bishop Watterson (Columbus, Ohio)
IOL
#534 NATL | #32 IOL
6-5 | 295
St. Clairsville (St. Clairsville, Ohio)
S
#836 NATL | #84 S
5-10 | 170
Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Florida)
Prospect Rating Data: 247Sports Composite